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calcutta · 12-15-2007, 02:02 AM

That's Moore Like It! - Denver clinch point at the death

Saturday, Oct 13th - The opening week trend of the away team snatching the points looked on track again when Houston held a 3-2 lead at INVESCO Field in the final minutes. But Denver defender Bobby Moore changed all that with an 87th minute volley that was lodged into the bottom corner to deservedly earn a point in a six goal thriller. Moore was first to react to the loose aerial ball from Andreas Brehme's corner kick that deflected off Houston defender Lucas Radebe - a fierce left foot strike that gave Jose Luis Chilavert no chance in goal.

It was a fitting finale to a back-and-forth encounter that saw visitors Houston take the lead in the 12th minute - Gianfranco Zola tapping in a rebound after Gabriel Batisuta's shot was saved by Ed de Goey. Five minutes later, Denver had the chance to equaliser on a Brehme corner kick, but Gary Lineker's header was cleared off the line by fullback Stuart Pearce. Not surprisingly, it was another Brehme corner just before the break that did result in the equaliser - his deep cross finding an unmarked Dunga at the back post to nod in after ghosting in around the back.

Despite giving up that soft goal, Houston were hardly discouraged after the break, and goalkeeper Chilavert showed off his renowned free kick ability with a dipping 30-yard effort that forced a great diving save out of his opposite number. But the Paraguayan was undone in his own goal area just minutes after the break, Christophe Dugarry leading a counterattack down the left, picking out Jorge Burruchaga with a low cross to tap in from thirteen yards to complete the turnaround. Again the visitors were not phased, levelling things at 2-2 when Zola banged in his second from 17 yards, after Pierre Littbarski supplied the set up. And Littbarski was at it again with ten or so minutes to go, setting up his captain Christian Karembeu in similar fashion. The Frenchman drove in a 26-yard thunderbolt to complete Houston's own comeback.

But Denver were buoyed on by their home support and English captain Bobby Moore was the saviour with three minutes to play to ensure the two sides played out the first draw of the inaugural HOFSL. Denver travel to play Detroit next Sunday, while Houston entertain Chicago on the Saturday in their home opener.

DENVER ........ 3 Dunga 37', Burruchaga 49', Moore 87'
HOUSTON ....... 3 Zola 12' 66', Karembeu 79'

from INVESCO Field at Mile High, Denver

Line-ups
DEN (4-1-2-3): de Goey, Baresi, Moore, Kaltz, Brehme, Dunga, Petit (Erwin Koeman +71'), Ancelotti, Dugarry, Burruchaga, Lineker (Caniggia +71')
HOU (4-1-3-2): Chilavert, Radebe, Buchwald, Pearce (Tassotti +86'), Lizarazu, Winter, Karembeau, Littbarski, Overmars (Rocheteau +59'), Zola, Batistuta

Shots
DEN: 14 total, 10 on target (Dugarry 4-1, Lineker 3-3, Burruchaga 3-2, Dunga 2-2, Caniggia 1-1, Brehme 1-1)
HOU: 12 total, 7 on target (Zola 4-3, Batistuta 2-2, Karembeau 2-1, Winter 2-0, Chilavert 1-1, Littbarski 1-0)

Possession: 57-43 Denver
Fouls: 7-4 Houston
Corners: 7-3 Denver

3 Stars
3 - Gianfranco Zola (HOU); scored two goals on four shots in an impressive league debut.
2 - Andreas Brehme (DEN); his corners caused major problems in the Houston defence, resulting in two of Denver's goals.
1 - Pierre Littbarski (HOU); set up the second and third goals to momentarily put Houston back in front again.

12-15-2007, 02:02 AM	#18
calcutta MVP OVR: 14 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Sydney, Australia	Week 1, Game 3 That's Moore Like It! - Denver clinch point at the death Saturday, Oct 13th - The opening week trend of the away team snatching the points looked on track again when Houston held a 3-2 lead at INVESCO Field in the final minutes. But Denver defender Bobby Moore changed all that with an 87th minute volley that was lodged into the bottom corner to deservedly earn a point in a six goal thriller. Moore was first to react to the loose aerial ball from Andreas Brehme's corner kick that deflected off Houston defender Lucas Radebe - a fierce left foot strike that gave Jose Luis Chilavert no chance in goal. It was a fitting finale to a back-and-forth encounter that saw visitors Houston take the lead in the 12th minute - Gianfranco Zola tapping in a rebound after Gabriel Batisuta's shot was saved by Ed de Goey. Five minutes later, Denver had the chance to equaliser on a Brehme corner kick, but Gary Lineker's header was cleared off the line by fullback Stuart Pearce. Not surprisingly, it was another Brehme corner just before the break that did result in the equaliser - his deep cross finding an unmarked Dunga at the back post to nod in after ghosting in around the back. Despite giving up that soft goal, Houston were hardly discouraged after the break, and goalkeeper Chilavert showed off his renowned free kick ability with a dipping 30-yard effort that forced a great diving save out of his opposite number. But the Paraguayan was undone in his own goal area just minutes after the break, Christophe Dugarry leading a counterattack down the left, picking out Jorge Burruchaga with a low cross to tap in from thirteen yards to complete the turnaround. Again the visitors were not phased, levelling things at 2-2 when Zola banged in his second from 17 yards, after Pierre Littbarski supplied the set up. And Littbarski was at it again with ten or so minutes to go, setting up his captain Christian Karembeu in similar fashion. The Frenchman drove in a 26-yard thunderbolt to complete Houston's own comeback. But Denver were buoyed on by their home support and English captain Bobby Moore was the saviour with three minutes to play to ensure the two sides played out the first draw of the inaugural HOFSL. Denver travel to play Detroit next Sunday, while Houston entertain Chicago on the Saturday in their home opener. DENVER ........ 3 Dunga 37', Burruchaga 49', Moore 87' HOUSTON ....... 3 Zola 12' 66', Karembeu 79' *from INVESCO Field at Mile High, Denver* Line-ups DEN (4-1-2-3): de Goey, Baresi, Moore, Kaltz, Brehme, Dunga, Petit (Erwin Koeman +71'), Ancelotti, Dugarry, Burruchaga, Lineker (Caniggia +71') HOU (4-1-3-2): Chilavert, Radebe, Buchwald, Pearce (Tassotti +86'), Lizarazu, Winter, Karembeau, Littbarski, Overmars (Rocheteau +59'), Zola, Batistuta Shots DEN: 14 total, 10 on target (Dugarry 4-1, Lineker 3-3, Burruchaga 3-2, Dunga 2-2, Caniggia 1-1, Brehme 1-1) HOU: 12 total, 7 on target (Zola 4-3, Batistuta 2-2, Karembeau 2-1, Winter 2-0, Chilavert 1-1, Littbarski 1-0) Possession: 57-43 Denver Fouls: 7-4 Houston Corners: 7-3 Denver 3 Stars 3 - Gianfranco Zola (HOU); scored two goals on four shots in an impressive league debut. 2 - Andreas Brehme (DEN); his corners caused major problems in the Houston defence, resulting in two of Denver's goals. 1 - Pierre Littbarski (HOU); set up the second and third goals to momentarily put Houston back in front again.